Postseason within sight for Nauset girls

The Nauset girls basketball team took a major step forward toward their ultimate season-long of making the postseason with a key 39-34 home win over Barnstable on Tuesday night.

The Warriors defense got them started on the right foot, limiting the Red Raiders offense to just two point in the first quarter, but turnovers and missed opportunities plagued the Warriors as Barnstable went on a run to get themselves back in the game at halftime.

Just before the midway point, Nauset's starting point guard, Savannah Thomas, had to leave the game after hitting the floor hard, and wouldn't return.

“That clearly changed the feel of the game. She's (Savannah) our hard-charger, and a obviously a big part of our offense, so losing her certainly changed some things for us,” said Nauset coach Airami Bentz.

Matt Rice

The Nauset girls basketball team took a major step forward toward their ultimate season-long of making the postseason with a key 39-34 home win over Barnstable on Tuesday night.

The Warriors defense got them started on the right foot, limiting the Red Raiders offense to just two point in the first quarter, but turnovers and missed opportunities plagued the Warriors as Barnstable went on a run to get themselves back in the game at halftime.

Just before the midway point, Nauset's starting point guard, Savannah Thomas, had to leave the game after hitting the floor hard, and wouldn't return.

"That clearly changed the feel of the game. She's (Savannah) our hard-charger, and a obviously a big part of our offense, so losing her certainly changed some things for us," said Nauset coach Airami Bentz.

With Callie Schadt and senior captain Carolyn Brooks assuming more of the point guard duties with Thomas out, the Warriors offense struggled to find consistency, as they tried to switch to more of a post game, with mixed results.

With Barnstable attacking the paint, Nauset forwards Kallie Hannon and Caitlin Schadt did a good job defensively.

With the game tight heading into the fourth quarter, the Warriors got an unexpected boast from sophomore Hope Elliott, who came into the game after Schadt fouled out.

Along with a pair of key baskets on the inside, Elliott came through with a few defensive stops when the Warriors needed them.

"I gave her a lot of credit, she really came in and played big for us. And this was the kind of game you need someone unexpected to step up and play well."

As the final quarter drew to a close, the Warriors put the game out of reach with a late bucket by Brooks and a pair of timely free throws from fellow senior captain Jenny Leyton.

Brooks led all Nauset scorers with nine points, followed by seven by Leyton and six by Hannon. Prior to leaving at halftime, Thomas had five points.

Unsure of the extent of her injury, coach Bentz said her loss has repercussions on both sides of the ball for the Warriors.

"She really does a lot for us defensively too; she opens things up for other players on offense as well."

The win marked the fourth in their last fifth games and puts them on the verge of a tournament berth.

"We've come a long way. I started three years ago and we won four games, last year five games, so we came with the goal of more than five wins and ultimately, make it into the state tournament.

With six games still remaining on their schedule, including a number of tough Atlantic Coast League games, coach Bentz wont let her team get ahead of themselves.

"We still have six tough games ahead of us, so it doesn't get any easier."

Nauset will host Marshfield, one of the top teams in the league, on Friday, followed by a make up game against the Monomoy girls team on Saturday afternoon.

On Monday, they'll play Sandwich, then travel to Plymouth North on Tuesday.

Next Friday, the girls will celebrate Senior Night, as the Warriors host Dennis-Yarmouth.